Manufacturing AI Lead: Real-Time Quality & Ops Optimization

Molex; Rochester Hills (MI); On-site; USD 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Molex is seeking a Manufacturing AI Expert to apply AI and advanced analytics to real‑world manufacturing challenges across multiple sites in the United States. The role focuses on quality improvement, predictive maintenance, planning optimization, and productivity gains, delivering practical AI solutions with measurable impact.

The candidate bridges manufacturing expertise with AI deployment, collaborating with Operations, Quality, Engineering, and IT to implement scalable applications and

Qualifications

• Proven experience in manufacturing operations.
• Strong understanding of AI, advanced analytics, and data‑driven technologies applied to manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and implement AI solutions that improve manufacturing performance, quality, productivity, maintenance, planning, or cost.
• Hands‑on experience bridging manufacturing expertise and AI/advanced analytics rather than AI theory alone, or demonstrated ability to translate advanced AI research into practical manufacturing applications.
• Practical knowledge of manufacturing processes, operational challenges, and decision‑making.
• Track record of successfully deploying or supporting digital transformation and AI adoption in manufacturing.
• Strong problem‑solving skills with the ability to translate business needs into scalable AI applications.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills across manufacturing, engineering, quality, supply chain, and IT teams.
• Ability to work effectively across regions and cultures and influence stakeholders without relying on direct authority.
• Unable to support CPT/OPT sponsorship

Responsibilities

• Identify high‑impact manufacturing problems and opportunities where AI and advanced analytics can improve quality, productivity, cost, or operational performance.
• Develop and deploy practical AI solutions for real‑time inspection, defect detection, root‑cause analysis, and closed‑loop quality improvement.
• Analyze manufacturing bottlenecks and improve throughput and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
• Partner with operations, quality, engineering, and site teams to implement data‑driven continuous improvement.
• Identify equipment and maintenance use cases suitable for AI and predictive analytics.
• Develop and deploy predictive maintenance solutions and AI‑enabled equipment management capabilities.
• Translate equipment data into actionable recommendations that improve reliability, availability, and maintenance decision‑making.
• Apply AI and advanced analytics to production planning, scheduling, resource allocation, demand forecasting, and supply planning.
• Improve inventory performance through forecasting, safety‑stock, replenishment, and planning analytics where appropriate.
• Develop predictive analytics to identify and mitigate supply chain risks and support end‑to‑end planning decisions.
• Identify, evaluate, and prioritize high‑impact AI use cases at manufacturing sites.
• Move AI solutions from concept or research into practical production environments and measure business outcomes.
• Work cross‑functionally with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, IT, and other stakeholders.
• Translate business and manufacturing requirements into scalable AI applications.
• Support AI adoption and continuous improvement, including communicating results, lessons learned, and business value.

Skills

Manufacturing experience

AI & analytics in manufacturing

Data-driven decision making

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Tools

Azure Cloud

Copilot Studio

Microsoft 365 Copilot

Computer Vision

Job description

Molex is seeking a Manufacturing AI Expert to apply AI and advanced analytics to real‑world manufacturing challenges across multiple sites in the United States. The role focuses on quality improvement, predictive maintenance, planning optimization, and productivity gains, delivering practical AI solutions with measurable impact.

The candidate bridges manufacturing expertise with AI deployment, collaborating with Operations, Quality, Engineering, and IT to implement scalable applications and